Ver. 1. And the Lord spake.] This is oft premised and prefaced for authority’s sake, and that we may learn to resolve all divine doctrines into Deus dixit.
Ver. 2. When a man shall make a singular vow.] Votum eximium, as Vatablus renders it, a personal, particular, voluntary vow; which, drawn by some peculiar reason, a man promiseth to God of his own accord. It is a binding of one’s self to God by a holy and religious promise, to do or not to do something lawful, possible, useful for our increase in godliness. As here of persons, afterwards of things: all which might be redeemed, under such exception as the law provideth, by the estimation of the priest for certain shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary: this was double to the ordinary shekel. The aim and intent of these personal vows was, say some, that the price of their redemption might be employed either for the maintenance of the priests, (Numbers 18:14) or for the repair of the sanctuary. (2 Kings 12:4,5) Neither by such vows do we cast any new snares upon ourselves, but rather a new tie to the payment of an old debt.
Ver. 3. Fifty shekels of silver.] This was the greatest rate, because people are then in their prime; and yet no very great one, lest they should think much to vow, or perform to the Lord their God.
Ver. 4. And if it be a female.] She is set at a lower valuation then the male, because less able for any laborious or rational employment.
Ver. 5. From five years old.] Childhood and youth is vanity. There is a bundle of folly in a child’s heart. (Proverbs 22:15) The same Greek word νηπιος, signifieth a fool, and a child. And the Hebrew word used to signify youth, (Ecclesiastes 11:10) signifieth blackness or darkness, to note, that youth is a dark and dangerous age. Few Macariuses to be found, who, for his gravity in youth, was surnamed παιδαριογερων, the old young man. Niceph.
Ver. 6. From a month old.] If his parents have made a vow concerning him.
Ver. 7. And if it be from sixty years.] The rate of old age is less than of youth, and more than of childhood.
Ver. 8. But if he be poorer.] Indulged he shall be, but not exempted. Vows, in things lawful and possible, must be performed, as we can at least. If rashly made, that rashness must be repented of, but the vow, if otherwise lawful, must be kept, without delay or diminution, to the utmost of our power. Men may not play with vows, (Ecclesiastes 5:3,4 Psalms 76:11) as monkeys with their collars, which they can slip at pleasure. To vow is voluntary, to pay is necessary. And yet what more common in the world than shipmen’s vows? As he in Erasmus, who in a storm promised his saint a picture of wax as big as St Christopher, but when he came to shore, would not give a tallow candle. Erasm. Colloq.
Ver. 9. Giveth,] i.e., Consecrateth unto God by his vow; and so, giveth him of his own. (1 Chronicles 29:14)
Ver. 10. Then it and the exchange thereof.] For a punishment of his instability and lightness.
Ver. 11. Any unclean beast.] Unless the dog were excepted. (Deuteronomy 23:18) [See Trapp on “De 23:18”]
Ver. 12. So shall it be.] What the priest doeth, God ratifieth.
Ver. 13. Then he shall add.] The owner, if he repent of his vow, shall pay for his levity. See Ecclesiastes 5:2,4,5.
Ver. 14. Sanctify his house.] Consecrate it, or any thing in it, by vow to the Lord. Leviticus 27:15,13
Ver. 20. Or if he have sold the field.] And so, sacrilegiously robbed God.
Ver. 22. Of his possession,] i.e., Not his patrimony, but his purchase.
Ver. 26. No man shall sanctify.] Because they were due unto the Lord before.
Ver. 28. Notwithstanding no devoted.] Hitherto of things consecrate; now of things execrate, whereof see a command, (Deuteronomy 13:15,17) an example. (Numbers 21:2) These could not be sold, nor redeemed, but must remain with the priest: if it were a beast, then to be put to death. No devoted thing.] No anathema: so the offerings of the temple were called. (Luke 21:5)
Ver. 29. None devoted,] sc., To destruction: as were the Amalekites; (1 Samuel 15:3) Canaanites; (Numbers 21:2) Jerichuntines. (Joshua 6:17)
Ver. 30. And all the tithe.] See here in this chapter what a liberal maintenance God allowed the priests: (1.) Various votive oblations, or their redemptions; (2.) All the firstborn, or their redemptions; (3.) Every devoted thing, unless devoted to some particular use; (4.) All the tithes of what kind soever: besides firstfruits, oblations, portions of sacrifices, &c. And I see not, saith a reverend man, but that tithes at least, or some better thing, should be due to the ministers of the gospel by Divine ordinance: and that those that take them from us should give us a better thing, as those here that had a mind to redeem their tithe, were bound by the law to add to the price every fifth penny above the true value. Mr Wilkinson’s Debt Book.
Ver. 32. Passeth under the rod.] Coloured at the end with red, to mark out the tenth, as they passed out. See Jeremiah 33:13.